Arizona mail in ballot counting rules
In Arizona, the rules for counting mail-in ballots are as follows:
- Deadline for submission: Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day (the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November) and received by the county recorder's office no later than 7 days after Election Day.
- Signature verification: County recorders verify the signature on the mail-in ballot envelope against the signature on file with the county. If the signatures match, the ballot is counted.
- Ballot curing: If a mail-in ballot is rejected due to a signature mismatch or other issue, the voter is notified and given the opportunity to "cure" the ballot by providing a new signature or resolving the issue. The voter has until 5:00 PM on the 5th day after Election Day to cure the ballot.
- Counting process: Once a mail-in ballot is verified and cured (if necessary), it is counted by election officials. The counting process typically begins on Election Day and continues over several days.
- Ballot tracking: Arizona law requires counties to provide a tracking system for mail-in ballots, allowing voters to track the status of their ballot online.
- Provisional ballots: If a mail-in ballot is rejected due to a problem with the envelope or ballot, it is treated as a provisional ballot. The voter is notified and given the opportunity to resolve the issue.
- Counting provisional ballots: Provisional ballots are counted after Election Day, typically during a canvass process. If the provisional ballot is valid, it is counted and added to the official election results.
It's worth noting that Arizona has a "no-excuse" absentee voting law, which means that any registered voter can request a mail-in ballot for any reason. Additionally, the state has implemented various measures to improve the accuracy and security of its mail-in voting system, including the use of barcodes and digital tracking systems.